Protector device



May 28, 1946. s. N. BUCHANAN PROTECTOR DEVICE Filed eb. 12,1944

Patented May 28, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PROTECTOR DEVICE Stephen N. Buchanan, Westmoreland Hills,lMd.

Application February 12, 1944, Serial No. 522,137

4 Claims.

lThe present invention relates to a novel relationship of parts whereby short circuiting is prevented in wire connecting devices which consist essentially oi an insulating base strip from which upstand or project a plurality of Wire connector studs and clamps, a connected wire extending from each side oi each stud. A device of this general character is disclosed in the applicants copending application Serial No. 455,636, led August 21, 1942.

In devices of this character, undesired short circuiting may take place if, for example, a tool such as a screw-driver or the like of electrically conductive material is inadvertently allowed to bridge a number of exposed stud ends, or if exposed or poorly insulated parts of wires extending from one stud inadvertently come into Contact with an adjacent stud. Irreparable damage may result from such undesired short circuiting and the positive prevention thereof manifestly constitutes a substantial contribution to the state of the art.

A primary purpose of the present invention is the avoidance of undesired short circuiting in devices of the character described. Further objects of the invention are to provide means for positively protecting exposed stud ends against undesired contact with short circuiting means, such as tools r the like, and to provide means for positively maintaining the several connected wires in desired non-short circuiting relationship. Still another object of the invention is to provide simple and eiTective means for the simultaneous realization of the aforesaid objects. Another object is to provide means of the aforesaid character which is readily and positively associable with devices of the described type.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed disclosure of a presently-preferred specic embodiment thereof, reference being had in this regard to the accompanying sheet of drawings.

On the said sheet of drawings,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a connector device and anti-short circuit protector, according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a Sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures 0f drawings.

Reference numeral I0 designates the supportsulating material, for example Bakelite or the like, and may be laminated or of any other suitable and desirable construction. Suitable recesses II are provided in the base I0 for housing the enlarged heads I2 of the post bolts or studs. These bolts or studs are essentially U- shaped (see Fig. 2) i. e. they are severally provided with a central slot extending along the greater portion thereof, forming two externally threaded legs is connected by the head I2. The legs I3 extend through correspondingly-shaped slots provided for this purpose in the base I0. A portion I5 of the base is thus arranged at the bottom of the slot of each stud (see Fig. 2).

As shown more particularly in Figs. 2 and 3, the stud or bolt slots accommodate the bare ends of the conductor wires I5 to be electrically interconnected or associated. These wires may extend from opposite sides of the studs as shown, and their ends are preferably in simple lap contact with each other.

In order to maintain the wire ends in position and in intimate contact with each other, internally threaded clamping nuts I'I, made for example of cadmium plated brass, are provided on the respective studs which may conveniently be made for instance of cadmium plated machine steel.

Nuts II are essentially cnventional in construction but are preferably provided with wireend-retaining strips I8 of suitable springy or other metal (see Fig. 3). The lower surface of each strip I8, which initially is a dat strip and may be bent into the conguration shown on the drawing with its ends I9 engaging opposite sides of the top cf the corresponding nut I'I and with intermediate loops 2U engaging the bottom of the nut, may be corrugated for biting engagement with the overlapped wire ends which are housed in the stud slot, therebetween and the metallic wire support 2l which is positioned at the bottom of the slot prior to the introduction of the wire ends.

Rotation of the nuts I1 effects relative longitudinal movement thereof and of retaining member I8 on the externally threaded stud legs I3. When turned into close contact with the wire ends housed in the stud slots, the clamping assembly Il, I8 holds the said ends securely in lapped relationship. In this position, the several nuts II are spaced from the top of the supporting base to an extent :c (see Fig. 2).

As shown more particularly in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the studs of adjacent rows of studs are ing base strip which may be of any suitable inpreferably arranged in staggered relationship with respect to each other. The result is that at least one conductor wire from each clamping stud extends between a pair of studs in an adjacent row of studs.

Reference numeral 22 designates an extended helical coil of resilient non-conductive material, such for example as synthetic resinous material, e. g. a vinyl resin of the so-called live glass type, rubber, rubber compositiony synthetic rubber composition or the like, which is correlated with the previously-described structure to form a protective encasing of insulating material.

As shown on the drawing, the lower parts of successive windings of the helix 22 engage under the nuts Il. Alternate windings may be in engagement at the upper parts thereof, as shown, with the upper ends of the stud slots. Moreover, the relationship of parts is such that a portion of the helix 22 is interposed between each wire and each adjacent stud.

The resiliency of the helix 22, i. e. the tendency of the convoi-ations thereof to draw together7 assures secure retention of the helix in place. Removal thereof may be effected in simple manner by further extending or stretching the convolutions, whereby they are disengaged from under nuts I1 and the helix may be removed. Mounting of the helix 22 may be readily `and rapidly effected by extending the convolutions thereof and slipping these into their respective positions, as shown.

It is evident from the foregoing that the above-described relationship of parts results in a realization of the objects of the invention.

It will be understood that the details hereinbefore .described are illustrative only and that the invention is not to be .limited thereby or thereto or otherwise than by the terms vof the following claims.

What is claimed and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. A device ci' the `character' described which comprises a plurality of Wire-receiving studs of electrically cor-.ductive material and a quickdetachable and quick-attachable non-electrically conductive protector element resiliently connected to and effectively encasing the same whereby to prevent undesired short-circuiting oi the said studs, said protector element consisting essentially of a resiliently extensible and contractible helical coil of non-conductive material.

2. A device of the character described which comprises a plurality of slotted wire-receiving studs of electrically conductive material and a quick-detachable and quick-attachable noneleetrically conductive protector element resiliently connected to and eilectively encasing the same whereby to prevent undesired short-circuiting of the said studs, said protector element consisting essentially of a resiliently extensible and contractible helical coil of non-conductive material, successive convolutions of said coil extending alternately (a) over the tops of the studs and over the slots thereof and (b) between adjacent studs.

3. A device of the character described which comprises a plurality of slotted wire-receiving studs of electrically conductive material and a quick-detachable and quick-attachable nonelectrically conductive protector element resiliently connected to and effectively encasing the same whereby to prevent undesired short-circuiting of the said studs, said protector element consisting essentially of a resiliently extensible and contractible helical coil .of non-conductive material, successive convolutions ol said coil extending alternately (a) over the tops of the studs and over the slots thereof and (b) between adjacent studs, and means on said studs providing shoulders engageable by convolutions of said coil.

4. A device of the character described which comprises a plurality of wire-interconnecting studs of electrically conductive material, a conductor wire extending from each side of each stud and a wire extending intermediate adjacent studs, means mounted on and encompassing said studs, said means consisting of a resilient helix of non-conductive material where by undesired short-circuiting of said studs is prevented, and a portion of said helix extending between each stud and each adjacent wire whereby to provide a non-conductive separator therebetween.

STEPHEN N. BUCHANAN. 

